Morris Financial Group sells, changes name

The Morris Financial Group Inc., a Springfield-based business tracing its roots back to 1912, sold to a longtime employee this week and changed names.

Scott Lassley, who’s worked for the financial planning company since 2000, bought the firm for undisclosed terms from Mike Morris, who’s retiring after 26 years leading the agency. The sale and the name change to Missouri Financial Group LLC happened Aug. 1.

“I was prepared to take and improve on a good thing,” Lassley said. “We wanted to change the name to reflect our scope, which is mostly clients throughout Missouri and agents throughout Missouri.”

Missouri Financial Group employs six in Springfield - at 3315 E. Ridgeview St., Ste. 4000, near PFI Western Store - and 50 representatives throughout the state. Lassley said the company’s primary services are life and health insurance, long-term care, employee benefits, and retirement and investment planning. The firm has around 15,000 clients and tens of millions of dollars in assets under management and, he said.

Missouri Financial Group operates as a general agency for Kansas City Life Insurance Co. (OTC: KCLI), and also does business through other companies.